Tornado watch issued for Lehigh Valley, northwestern New Jersey

The Lehigh Valley and northwestern New Jersey fall within a wide swath of Pennsylvania and New Jersey under a tornado watch issued at 2 this afternoon by the National Weather Service at Mount Holly, N.J.

In effect until 10 tonight, the watch applies to 28 counties in Pennsylvania and 16 in New Jersey, including Bucks, Lehigh, Northampton, Hunterdon and Warren counties.

A National Weather Service watch generally means that conditions may develop leading to a tornado. Residents are advised to be prepared to take action should a tornado warning be issued.